Game Components

[kzucker]

In addition to the "Historical Notes" which are more of a narrative of the battles, there is another form of "Historical Notes" which includes interesting observations from different authors, that provide grist for the game itself. These notes are from L. A. Thiers History of the Consulate adn the Empire of France, Vol. IX. Thiers was the only author to write a 20 volume history of the era.

[kzucker]

The attached shows how our counter mix was developed. It is a working document that you won't see in the game.

[kzucker]

Mark Simonitch sent the attached file as he is about to begin designing the counters. We have decided to go with style No. 2, second from left.

[Nico[PL]]

Very Nice!!:)

Still I think the nicest were counters from 6 Days of Glory ;) ,

[kzucker]

From F.A. Thiers, History of the Consulate and the Empire, Vol IX.

My notes. (Suggest viewing at 130%: Go to View Menu, Zoom, 130%.)

[kzucker]

We are still adjusting the ratings on the unit counters. Here are proposed Initiative Ratings for the Officers in the game for current playtest purposes. Please post any comments here.

FRENCH

Bertrand IV (3)
Reynier VII (4)
Arrighi IIIC (4)
Mortier G (3)
Nansouty GC (5)
Latour 1C (5)
Marmont VI (4)
St. Cyr XIV (4)
Souham III (2)
Lauriston V (2)
Sebastiani IIC (5)

COALITION

Wasiltchikow Cav (4)
Yorck I Pr (2)*
Korff IC (4)
St. Priest VIII (2)
Colloredo 1 (2)
Bianchi 2 Res (1)
Chasteler 1 Res (3)*
Nostitz (2)
Hohenlohe (2)

Ostermann Tolstoi (1)
Wittgenstein (2)
Konstantine (2)

Yermolov V (2)
Raevsky III (2)
Eugen II (2)
Galitzin V (4)
Tauenzien IV Pr (4)
Stedingk S (1)
Woronzow XIV (1)

* Changed on 4/22/05

[Nico[PL]]

FRENCH

Arrighi IIIC (4) - in Struggle of Nations he is (5)
Marmont VI (4) - in Struggle of Nations he is (3)

COALITION

Yorck I Pr (3) - in Struggle of Nations he is (2)
St. Priest VIII (2) - in Struggle of Nations he is commanding VII corps
Colloredo 1 (2) - in Struggle of Nations he is (1)

Yermolov V (2) - in Struggle of Nations he is (1)
Raevsky III (2) - in Struggle of Nations he is (1)
Tauenzien IV Pr (4) - in Struggle of Nations he is (2)

---

Should those new values be used with old SoN as "update" :) ? They would somewhat "upgrade" Coalition forces.

[kzucker]

Nico-
No, I do not think so, except for Tauenzien. I had underrated this Prussian General based on his performance in 1806 and the fact that he had all Landwehr troops. However, in re-examining his role in both Grossbeeren and Dennewitz, he played a large part in both victories, showing dogged perseverence.

Struggle has to be an "overall" campaign rating, but these four games focus on a short two-week period.

[lanterna]

Marquis Johann Gabriel de Chasteler de Courcelles, Tirol’s hero, was in his full body strenght being 50 y.old. Commanding a special Grenadier troops unit had a strong will of personal revenge. So I think you might rate him like the dull Yorck.

FzM Hieronymus Graf von Colloredo-Mannsfeld obtained great military award (promoted Feldzeugmeister) after action at Kulm (30.8.1813) when went in Tolstoi’s support by initiative. Maybe you could rate him 3.

[kzucker]

Good thought regarding the increase to Chasteler's Initiative.

Regarding Colloredo, that is only part of the story. From Petre, p. 233...

Tsar Alexander ordered Colloredo, who was nearest him, to Priesten (the actual front line against Vandamme at Kulm). The Austrian refused on the ground of Schwarzenberg's orders. The latter could not be found, but the Tsar found Metternich and the latter assumed responsibility of sending Colloredo to Priesten, saying that circumstances had changed since Schwarzenberg's order.

[lanterna]

Well I know Lorraine Petre opinion ... and I agree with you
However austrian font tell the matter in an other way ... They say twas the Czar Alexander, unable to find Fürst Schwarzenberg and hurried, to send Metternich to the village of Düx where Bianchi and Colloredo were marching through with the order to reach Teplitz - Teplice - Priesten; to install - as they said - the Trap for Vandamme.
This a sample of an other way to have Chain of Command (Russian Czar -->Austrian allied) and for me could mean good iniative in subordinates.
The Colloredo's attack on the left finally did end the battle probably saving Prussian Korps von Kleist from a "rout".

An Austrian Hi
Enrico

[kzucker]

Hi,

Colloredo is a (2) for now. I do not think he can go higher.

I have another question: Russian General Wittgenstein ... I cannot figure out his rôle in this period. Did he participate at Kulm?

[lanterna]

After Bautzen that General wasn't seen often nearby the Czar Alexander. In the Fedor Shubert War Diary of 1813 (Russian source) is told:
"
16 [28 August]. The army remained at Goldberg; the advance guard pursued the enemy and captured six guns and numerous prisoners at Pilgramsdorf. The Prussians also engaged in pursuit and seized 9 guns. We received news that Bernadotte won a victory four lieues from Berlin, capturing 27 cannon, 2,000 men and is moving to Torgau, while Wittgenstein capture fortified camp at Pirna.

19 [31 August]. During the night, construction of pontoon bridges began but becayse of swift current of the Bober as well as ignorance of pontoon engineers, we crossed only around 9 a.m., though we did not encountered any obstacles from the enemy who retreated under the cover of darkness. Yesterday, St.Priest advance guard reached vicinities of Greiffenberg. We proceed to Greiffenberg. The road to Seiffersdorf was dreadful; Rudzevich’s advance guard, having passed Braunau, already reached Lauban. We received news that on the 14th Wittgenstein assaulted Dresden but was repulsed with considerable losses; that Napoleon with his army crossed the Elbe at Konigstein and that our main army took positions upstream near Altenbourg. (No. 2)

So he wasn't at Kulm where the Russian Commander was Prince (Fürst) Eugen von Württemberg General Leutnant.

Preil Arndt, "Österreichs Schlachtfelder" "Die Schlacht bei Kulm am 30. August 1813" vol. 3 Weishaupt Verlag Graz 1993

[kzucker]

In some ten days we will have graphically designed maps and counters for 4LB. The rules and cards are very close to finished.

We are looking for volunteer playtesters. Someone who can troubleshoot rules and find the goofy stuff, and let us know about it in farily short order. Someone retired, in other words.

This next round of playtests will start on May 7th and will last until the rules go to press (tentatively planned for about Marengo day, June 14th).

[kzucker]

The counters will have their Corps-identification color at the top where it will be most accessible.

[kzucker]

Another view

[kzucker]

The troops fielded by Bavaria in support of the French in 1813 were a far cry from those who participated in 1809. Jack Gill explains ...

Thanks to Jack for allowing us to publish an abridged version of this paper originally presented to the Society for Military History in 1999.

[Edgar]

Are the Society for Military History's papers available to the people outside the Society? That one is very good, and enjoyable, I wish I could read some more of them regarding the campaigns depicted in your games.

[kzucker]

Edgar,

Here's what it says at their website, http://www.smh-hq.org/jmh/

The Journal of Military History, the quarterly journal of the Society for Military History, has published scholarly articles on the military history of all eras and geographical areas since 1937. The Journal is fully refereed. It publishes articles, book reviews, a list of recent articles dealing with military history published by other journals, an annual list of doctoral dissertations in military history, and an annual index. Institutions interested in receiving the

[kzucker]

In case you haven't made counters before, here's how:

Equipment Needed: 1) metal T-square; 2) X-Acto knife; 3) Glue-stick. 4)
Masking tape; 5) 11x17 cardboard; 6) a cutting mat (I use a plastic
"self-healing" cutting mat from the art supply store, but another, larger,
sheet of cardboard will work fine)

1. The first thing you should do is to trim the laser-printed sheets so that
the white border around the counters is exactly the same on the right as
it is on the left. (Check that all the tops are the same, etc.) Work square.

2. Then mount the front of the French sheet on thin cardboard (don't use
heavy illustration board or you will wear your arm out). Your board must be
perfectly square, at least at one corner. If using Glue-stick, make sure
you get 100% coverage or you counter facings will have a tendency to
peel-off. (I prefer glue-stick because it provides a solid bond but it can
be lifted and repositioned.) Align the paper edge to the cardboard edge
exactly. When I have the sheet positioned properly, I use a large (4" wide)
candle as a roller to press the sheet onto the cardboard, rolling with
pressure in both directions.

3. Mount the front of the Coalition sheet below the French sheet, and butt
the top of this sheet to the bottom of the french, so there is no gap
between the paper edges.

4. Trim the cardboard down to the sheet edges all around, so no coardboard
is showing.

5. Reverse the sheet and repeat steps 2 and 3, Top edge to Top edge.

6. Tape the cardboard to a cutting mat (to protect the table surface) and
affix both to your table with several pieces of masking tape (table must
have a good straight side for the T-Square).

7. Align your blade on the first crop mark and bring the T-square alongside
the blade. Make four or five cuts with moderate pressure (not too hard).
Don't cut across the "trees" between rows of counters.

8. Repeat #7, making all your horizontal cuts.

9. Then lift the tape and rotate the job 90-degrees. Retape and repeat step
7 in the horizontal direction. Do not let the loose counters pop-up out of
their beds, as it makes a straight cut harder to achieve once the cardboard
starts moving around. Keeping the trees intact will make the job easier.

It should take about 4 hours to complete this job...

[Edgar]

Sorry, Kevin, but where could I find an 11x17 cardboard? Do you sell blank counters? In that case you have half of the work done :p

[kzucker]

Edgar,

I have just learned about this kind of foam that Phil Fry used for his markers for the 1805 game. This is pretty firm, yet very easy to cut. Hopefully he will tell us the secret of this product, what it is called. Perhaps it can be ordered over the web.

[kzucker]

At OSG's homepage we have a replica of the box to Four Lost Battles. There are four paintings reproduced on the box. Kulm & Grossbeeren are by C. Röchling; credits for the two other pictures needed. Who painted the Dennewitz and Katzbach pictures...?

[Edgar]

In this web the Katzbach picture is for sale, I'm sure they know whom is the copyright, or who's the creator:

http://www.franckowiak.de/bluecher/ig/bl/schlachten/katzbach/katzbach.htm

And here: Kulm + other interesting. And a "new" Dennewitz. About the one you use in the box... unknown for me.

http://www.rainerpoenicke.de/index200.html

[kzucker]

Edgar,

Thank you. We have credits for all except the Katzbach picture. That is a great map there which I hadn't seen before, very useful for me.

[kzucker]

Please examine the attached. It shows the current draft of the cards (just showing the text for now). These cards are not the "game engine" but provide for ancilliary details such as reinforcement schedules and unusual events.

I'd love to hear from anyone who can spot potential problems in these cards now before they go to the printer (that will be in early June).

Each player has an identical deck of 50 cards. Each of the four battle scenario instructions requiries some cards to be pulled out before play begins. One card is played at the beginning of each player turn to establish the movement allowance of friendly forces (for example, 4/6 means full printed movement allowance). There is also a number indicating the VPs gained or lost by playing that card, and a number in the corner that tells how many cards of that exact type in the game. New cards are drawn each turn, and extra cards are drawn when you occupy a VP objective hex on the map.

Text in blue is rough draft.

[Nico[PL]]

Maybe demoralization of bigger part of friendly forces should make that player draws less cards ?

[kzucker]

Nico-

That is a nice idea. Ordinarily each player draws one card each turn. Maybe when your corps is demoralized, on the next turn you don't get to draw a card?

[Phil Fry]

Edgar,

I have just learned about this kind of foam that Phil Fry used for his markers for the 1805 game. This is pretty firm, yet very easy to cut. Hopefully he will tell us the secret of this product, what it is called. Perhaps it can be ordered over the web.

The item is "Funky Foam Sheet" made by "4 Kids Company Mfg. Ltd.". I got mine at Hobby Lobby. It comes in 2mm and 3mm thickness (I use the 3mm). It is about a $1 for a 30 cm x 45 cm sheet. Several colors. Red is Item # 287755 and yellow is Item # 288043. Sorry don't know about the availability over the internet.

Fair winds,
Phil